Pharmacokinetics of cyanamide in dog and rat.

A pharmacokinetic study of cyanamide, an inhibitor of aldehyde dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.2.1.3) has been made in the beagle dog and Sprague-Dawley rat. Cyanamide plasma levels were determined by a sensitive high performance liquid chromatographic assay, specific for cyanamide. In the dog, i.v. administration of cyanamide at 1, 2 and 4 mg kg-1, produced a dose-dependent pharmacokinetic behaviour. Statistically significant changes were observed in plasma clearance values (12.6 to 19.7 mL kg-1 min-1), half life values (39 to 61 min) and mean residence times (50 to 79 min). Peak plasma concentrations, after oral administration of 4 mg kg-1 were achieved at 30 min and oral bioavailability was about 65%. In the rat after i.v. or oral administration, cyanamide (2 mg kg-1) had a half life of 30 min, a total plasma clearance of 117 mL kg-1 min-1 and a mean residence time of 26 min. Oral bioavailability was about 69%.